Dear George, All
Here some more analytical thoughts:
On 4/14/2020 6:47 PM, George Bruseker wrote:
Dear all,
Here is a minor modelling issue which may or may not find your
interest in these times of quarantine. The modelling conundrum is the
following:
Sometimes in an activity, the activity is carried out by a named
individual but it is carried out on the behest of an organization or
someone acts in their capacity as the representative of an organization.
The first thing we should distinguish is if this representation is a
permanent or a temporary one.
The second, if the activity is regarded as an activity of the Group in
its entirety, or as an activity within the activities of the Group.
For instance, at FORTH, we as researchers are not entitled to speak in
the name of FORTH, but the products of our work are propriety of FORTH.
See also the concept of "procura" https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Procuration
Generally, if some consequences cannot be inferred from the atomic
description, we may need "redundant" modelling, representing respective
facts in addition to the causal relation.
Examples:
The Conceptual Modelling (E7) is carried out by George Bruseker (E21)
as representative of Takin.Solutions (E74)
The Diplomatic Reception (E7) is carried out by Ms. Diplomat (E21) as
representative of the Canadian Government
Ie: we want to say that at this time (when E7 occurred) this actor
(E21) did the action (p14) but also to qualify this participation not
through a role but to say that this person was not acting as an
individual but at the time was employed by, working for, acting on the
behest of some other entity E74.
One the one hand you could say, just document that the actor was a
member of some group through a join and leave event and then you could
calculate that they were a member of that group at the time of the
event. I think this doesn't work because a) it is obtuse and b) it
cannot be inferred that because I am a member of some group at some
time that the actions I take in that time span are then me acting on
behalf of that group. Obviously, I guess.
Yes, indeed.
So next potential solution. I think that p14.1 in the role of, won't
cut it, because that would only point to a role 'diplomat' 'conceptual
modeller' whatever. This does not create the relation to the instance
of E39 actor which the E21 acts on behalf of/under the auspices of.
We can use two P14 carried out by links, in which the activity is that
of the Group P14.1 in the role of : "employer", and P14.1 in the role
of: "implementer".
This describes well the incidental connection between employer and
employee in actions on behest of the employer.
Note, that all such proposals should be documented, and a good practice
of role types be collected!
Alternatively, and compatible with that, would be a description of an
overarching activity of the Group, such as "Conceptual Modelling
Research" at FORTH ICS CCI, and my individual works as "forms part of"
the larger one.
You can't just say that the E21 p107i is current or former member of
E74 because a) acting on behalf of someone else doesn't necessarily
imply membership in a group together and b) this will not say that the
person _at that time_ was acting on behalf of / in relation to the
other Actor anyway (see above).
Sure.
A classic solution might be to create a one person E74 group called
'representative of x organization on this night' and then put the
person in that group and then have the group carry out the action.
While logically it sounds like a solution (and doesn't call for new
additions to the model) but it would be counterintuitive to a user,
creating entities that the user wouldn't imagine to think of or use.
I would reject such a solution, because there is no substance of
identity to such a one-person Group. This should be restricted to
offices and procurators.
In these cases, the relationship is clear.
Another option would be to do event partioning and then say that the
person participated in a sub activity in which they were
'representing' x. I also think this creates a lot. of complication and
is not self explanatory as a modelling solution (half the time you
should look for actors carrying out the activity under p14 and half
the time under a sub event of E7 with a special type).
That is actually not a problem. See above. I would not use a
"representing" x, but "forms part of". I think the concept of an
overarching activity is very clear. The "part of" implies the "on behest
of". .
We always need to complement search by deductions, inferences between
the general and the specific. Therefore "half the time you should look
for actors carrying out the activity under p14 and half the time under a
sub event of E7 with a special type" is not an argument at all. The
closure of all reasonable paths is what people must look at. A good
practice guide should enumerate such solutions.
The solution is monotonic in two directions, which is very important:
A) start with the individual activity, not knowing on who's behalf.
Adding later a forms part of.
B) start with the Group activity, not knowing the implementer. Adding
later the subactivity.
The same holds for the two roles solution above.
So I don't find any of my imagined solutions very satisfactory. What
do other people think? Does anyone have a solution that I haven't
thought of with existing CRM mechanics? If there isn't a pre-existing
solution, do you ideas on how to cover this scenario?
I encounter it relatively frequently.
One solution I could imagine would be a new .1 type property off the
PC14 class that would be something like 'as representative of'. I am
not wedded to such a solution, but I suggest it because I think it
might link to a more general issue that it is difficult to express
'manner' in a grammatical sense with CRM and somehow the .1 properties
aid with this important kind of construct.
I do not like it, because it sounds linguistically nice, but leaves the
form of representation under-determined. It cannot distinguish between
representing an organisation, such as a procuration, and carrying out a
task as employee.
I think we should introduce some specializations of "was motivated by"
for commissioning, which has a clear sense. Could be for CRMsoc.
Best,
Martin
Anyhow just food for thought.
Best,
George
_______________________________________________
Crm-sig mailing list
[email protected]
http://lists.ics.forth.gr/mailman/listinfo/crm-sig
--
------------------------------------
Dr. Martin Doerr
Honorary Head of the
Center for Cultural Informatics
Information Systems Laboratory
Institute of Computer Science
Foundation for Research and Technology - Hellas (FORTH)
N.Plastira 100, Vassilika Vouton,
GR70013 Heraklion,Crete,Greece
Vox:+30(2810)391625
Email: [email protected]
Web-site: http://www.ics.forth.gr/isl
_______________________________________________
Crm-sig mailing list
[email protected]
http://lists.ics.forth.gr/mailman/listinfo/crm-sig
